Purpose to ids/isbns in calibre?

sun surfer · 08-02-2015, 03:24 PM

I'm switching ebook formats and so am taking this opportunity to start from scratch and build my library correctly with calibre. Before, I'd only used calibre for quick conversions and such and didn't pay attention to the rest. Now my goal is to format things correctly as they come into calibre and my query is what purpose do the ids serve? I can't decide whether to leave them be, try to give them to all books or erase all of them for minimalism's sake.

I'm also specifically curious about public domain books - I've been fooling around with some in calibre and when I download metadata it includes ids for versions I did not buy. Is there any advantage to keeping some id for a public domain book even if it's linked to a buyable version you didn't get?

theducks · 08-02-2015, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I'm switching ebook formats and so am taking this opportunity to start from scratch and build my library correctly with calibre. Before, I'd only used calibre for quick conversions and such and didn't pay attention to the rest. Now my goal is to format things correctly as they come into calibre and my query is what purpose do the ids serve? I can't decide whether to leave them be, try to give them to all books or erase all of them for minimalism's sake.

I'm also specifically curious about public domain books - I've been fooling around with some in calibre and when I download metadata it includes ids for versions I did not buy. Is there any advantage to keeping some id for a public domain book even if it's linked to a buyable version you didn't get?

"Your Papers please"
Why do you carry a Drivers License? You know if you can drive (or not

)

ID is a more exact proof of which book (version) than just Title.
It can be matched with the records back a 'X' (the metadata sources)

sun surfer · 08-02-2015, 09:36 PM

Ah, yes I think I'm beginning to understand - it's basically so that when I export a book to a reader or app, the software will correctly understand the version of the book or something along those lines. I think then that I should probably leave alone the ids for bought books and erase the ones that automatically pop up when I download metadata for public domain books since they have no id. Thanks!

eschwartz · 08-02-2015, 09:46 PM

ids are useful for downloading metadata, and are formatted as clickable links in calibre. You can use them to integrate with goodreads (via a plugin) and several other things.

I can only speak for Kindles, but if you have a mobi-asin/asin/amazon id then Kindle-converted books can link to the store when you select View Book Details.
Other devices and apps may do similar, but it is likely dependent on store-specific ids.

I generally don't fuss about them once the book has clean metadata in calibre.

sun surfer · 08-02-2015, 09:58 PM

Thanks eschwartz; I'll probably try to take advantage of that goodreads integration then. I have my first Kindle on the way and that's why I'm starting over with calibre.

eschwartz · 08-02-2015, 10:06 PM

Welcome to the club, and enjoy your new Kindle!

theducks · 08-02-2015, 10:33 PM

BTW
Id's are not limited to those you download
You can make your own as long as you follow the rules (pattern)

My Library documents my (stored) paperback collection
MyBooks:Crate_A1
MyBooks being the ID type
Crate_A1 being the (Storage) ID

sun surfer · 08-03-2015, 11:11 AM

Thanks, both of you!

08-02-2015, 03:24 PM	#1
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Purpose to ids/isbns in calibre? I'm switching ebook formats and so am taking this opportunity to start from scratch and build my library correctly with calibre. Before, I'd only used calibre for quick conversions and such and didn't pay attention to the rest. Now my goal is to format things correctly as they come into calibre and my query is what purpose do the ids serve? I can't decide whether to leave them be, try to give them to all books or erase all of them for minimalism's sake. I'm also specifically curious about public domain books - I've been fooling around with some in calibre and when I download metadata it includes ids for versions I did not buy. Is there any advantage to keeping some id for a public domain book even if it's linked to a buyable version you didn't get?

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08-02-2015, 09:36 PM	#3
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Ah, yes I think I'm beginning to understand - it's basically so that when I export a book to a reader or app, the software will correctly understand the version of the book or something along those lines. I think then that I should probably leave alone the ids for bought books and erase the ones that automatically pop up when I download metadata for public domain books since they have no id. Thanks!

08-02-2015, 09:46 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	ids are useful for downloading metadata, and are formatted as clickable links in calibre. You can use them to integrate with goodreads (via a plugin) and several other things. I can only speak for Kindles, but if you have a mobi-asin/asin/amazon id then Kindle-converted books can link to the store when you select View Book Details. Other devices and apps may do similar, but it is likely dependent on store-specific ids. I generally don't fuss about them once the book has clean metadata in calibre.

08-02-2015, 09:58 PM	#5
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Thanks eschwartz; I'll probably try to take advantage of that goodreads integration then. I have my first Kindle on the way and that's why I'm starting over with calibre.

08-02-2015, 10:06 PM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Welcome to the club, and enjoy your new Kindle!

08-02-2015, 10:33 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,959 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	BTW Id's are not limited to those you download You can make your own as long as you follow the rules (pattern) My Library documents my (stored) paperback collection MyBooks:Crate_A1 MyBooks being the ID type Crate_A1 being the (Storage) ID

08-03-2015, 11:11 AM	#8
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Thanks, both of you!

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